Mary Wade was born (17 December 1778) amongst poverty, in Westminster England. Times were tough. The Industrial Revolution squashed many income-streams for peasants. Many turned to crime for survival. In retaliation, the authorities enacted extreme punishments. The ‘Bloody Code’ had 288 crimes that carried the death penalty [1]. Men, women, and children were put to death for cutting down trees, stealing to the value of 5 shillings and above (worth about ???48 or $62 USD), through to murder.
It wasn’t unusual for children to earn money sweeping the streets in London. Mary was one of them. One day, she espied a means to make easy money. Along with 14-year-old friend Jane Whiting, she coerced an 8-year-old girl into a privy and stripped her of her frock, tippet (stole/scarf) and cap. Mary sold the frock (cotton) to a pawnbroker. She possibly sold the cap to someone else. We don’t know what price Mary got for the frock, but it priced for sale at 18 pence (worth???29 today).